Ken Smith described the joy he experienced when he was legally allowed to marry his partner last month.

After a federal judge in North Carolina struck down the state’s same-sex marriage ban Oct. 10, Smith, of Burlington, said he later married his partner in Guilford County. The federal judge’s ruling came after a July ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling striking down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. That court has jurisdiction over North Carolina as well.

Smith was among the panelists at Living Out Equality in Alamance County, an event hosted by Life’s Journey United Church of Christ. Smith said he was thankful and felt gratitude for having marriage equality in North Carolina.